Decoratively tying a sgian dugh into sheath for Faires?

**Highwayman** · 15th May 19, 01:23 PM

Many Faires and events mandate 'peace tying' or simply lashing or zip tying weapons into their scabbards so they are purely for show and cannot be drawn. My favorite faire has this policy, and my wanting to wear a decent sgian dubh means it has to get tied up. What about finding a Celtic looking or subtle way to do so, without it looking like a mail bundle?

**Karl R** · 15th May 19, 01:26 PM

Can you tie the hilt to your leg under your kilt hose?

**The Wizard of BC** · 15th May 19, 04:02 PM

Simply skip the Sgain altogether. There is really no function to a Sgain other than the 'look'. Most aren't even sharp or capable of holding an edge. In this case you can't pull or use it anyway so its not a useful tool, just decoration.

When out and around town I do not normally have a Sgain. If I am dressing up, or attending a Scottish themed event, I may put one in my sock for decoration. And my normal decoration is not a Sgain Dubh with a blade, but a Sgain Shoe.

**tuathanach** · 15th May 19, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by Highwayman

Many Faires and events mandate 'peace tying' or simply lashing or zip tying weapons into their scabbards so they are purely for show and cannot be drawn. My favorite faire has this policy, and my wanting to wear a decent sgian dubh means it has to get tied up. What about finding a Celtic looking or subtle way to do so, without it looking like a mail bundle?

I have seen sgian dubhs that have no blade at all. The hilt is simply connected to a molded sheath. It *looks* like a sgian dubh, but it really isn't. Would that be acceptable?

(I think USA Kilts sells these, but I am guessing other folks do also...)

**tuathanach** · 15th May 19, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

Simply skip the Sgain altogether. There is really no function to a Sgain other than the 'look'. Most aren't even sharp or capable of holding an edge. In this case you can't pull or use it anyway so its not a useful tool, just decoration.

When out and around town I do not normally have a Sgain. If I am dressing up, or attending a Scottish themed event, I may put one in my sock for decoration. And my normal decoration is not a Sgain Dubh with a blade, but a Sgain Shoe.

Steve, where did you get your Sgain Shoe?

**The Wizard of BC** · 15th May 19, 05:44 PM

Um, sorry, I should have said. - I made it.

I have the plastic "Sgain Don't" in my rental fleet. (No blade, just a piece of plastic for those kids who want to rent a kilt for prom on school grounds) So I just cut the end off, used a Dremel tool to carve out some into the handle and epoxied a standard shoe horn into the cavity.

I added a small piece of aluminum tape like that use by HVAC guys to add a bit of shiney bling to the handle.

**MNlad** · 16th May 19, 09:15 AM

Another alternative if you have a cheap sgian you don't care about is to place it in its sheath and drilling through the entire works with an appropriate sized drill bit and fastening them together with a Chicago screw.

**Nyckname** · 16th May 19, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by tuathanach

I have seen sgian dubhs that have no blade at all. The hilt is simply connected to a molded sheath. It *looks* like a sgian dubh, but it really isn't...

I had a friend in the S.C.A. in the '80s who started making those, from dagger up to great sword, when he was at a university that didn't allow the possession of any blades over three inches.

He said it was funny watching security trying to draw them. They would eventually believe him and give up.

**Stoff** · 17th May 19, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by Nyckname

I had a friend in the S.C.A. in the '80s who started making those, from dagger up to great sword, when he was at a university that didn't allow the possession of any blades over three inches.

He said it was funny watching security trying to draw them. They would eventually believe him and give up.

Having spent 30 plus years in the SCA and 20 plus in Rev War reenacting, I can see this very thing happen, and I can get a good laugh out of it as well.

Thanks for the visual.

Stoff

**AFS1970** · 22nd May 19, 07:12 PM

I have found most faire security don't care if the handle is attached to a blade, shoehorn or bottle opener, they will want to make it so all their staff know it has been inspected. This often includes peace tying something that really doesn't need to be. Having worked security at various events I appreciate the clue but also see the ridiculousness this sometimes breeds.

Because of this there is no need to make the tying fit in or be discrete. I often tie my blades with fluorescent colored plastic wire ties. In the case of a small blade with no easy loops to tie onto, I usually tie one around the handle, 1 around the sheath and two on the sides to connect those two ties. In the case of a sgian dhu that will be in your hose make sure that the one on the sheath does not catch on your hose.